US3376815A

US3376815A - Pineapple mine

Info

Publication number: US3376815A
Application number: US486091A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pelszynski John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-09-09
Filing date: 1965-09-09
Publication date: 1968-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-09

Description

April 1968 J. PELSZYNSKI 3,376,815

PINEAPPLE MINE Filed Sept. 9, 1965 FIG. 1 6b +24 38 I3 39 NJ '2 I ,/'23 [5 INVENTOR. John Pelszynski BY Attorney United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mine with a spring-actuated arming device comprising a governor-controlled gearing rotating a screw threaded into a safety latch and moving it to a disengaged position with respect to the firing pins.

The pineapple mine because of its adaptability and special construction will serve as a defense in difiicult areas and since it is not visible will be a silent sentinel ever on guard.

Its primary function is aimed for use in dense shrubbery, forests and jungles. It will, however, produce good results in other areas, too.

- The pineapple mine is very sensitive. The slightest pull or movement produces an explosion. It is very effective because it scatters pieces in every direction. The force of the explosion causes the fragments to travel as much as 80-100 feet in all directions.

The pineapple mine emits a loud explosive noise and with it disburses many sharp fragments of varied sizes which in turn can produce painful cuts-or even be fatal. They definitely prevent the recipient of such injuries from carrying on further combat.

The pineapple mine is so easily and so well concealed that its almost impossible to spy. It can be put alongside roads or areaways, or set up at a given height in trees-and can be masked to blend in with surroundings. It can be suspended at will, with its steel links finished in the color of surrounding leaves or grassmaking it impossible to find. The lines are hung at random with some slack so there will be no pull on them because once the safety catch is released they are set"for their specific function-and if this slack were not allowed an explosion wouldbe inevitable.

The ends of the steel links are fitted with small anchors which are then attached to a given object, and in the event it appears necessary, additional anchors are sus pended, so that as the adversary passes these will hook into his clothing or equipment, causing a tug or pull on the mine, activating the explosive. 'The number of anchors used depends on the size of the area to be seeded.

The mine, when properly laid out, cannot be disconnected and so cannot be thwarted.

It can only be inactivated by direct gunfire from a safe distance, because of the sharp fragments which come forth once it is activated. It is verydangerous to do this. There is no safe or sure way to inactivate'the mine once it is set up. a a

The mines should not be set near each other because the detonation of one could set off a chain reaction. If it becomes necessary to sow them close to each other then it should be remembered to have a large tree or object separating them. The tree or other object would then act as a backstop for the flying fragments or possibly divert them toward the nearest mine.

The pineapple mine is not activated by small brush or forest fires. It can withstand a great deal of heat so even after a forest or brush fire it is still potent.

The mine can be set up at thoroughfares without the use of lines. When used this way it does not block passage and can even be used in small rivers.

When transporting the mines its important, in spite of the safety device, to transport only unassembled mines, that is, the activator and its mechanism should be separated, also all other sections. Assembly of the mine should be done on the site where it is to be used inasmuch as extreme caution is necessary. Once the mine is set up the safety pin is removed and the mine should be abandoned because within just a matter of seconds it is wholly potent.

Drawings attached will show more detail of structure and complete workings of the mine.

FIGURE 1 shows pineapple mine completely assembled, in scale lrl, lengthwise through the center.

FIGURE 2. View from top of needle resistor with hollow roller and placement of needles in activator on resistor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Steel cylinder or t igger 1 is made from a single piece of steel. The segment of the roller which is fastened to the upper portion of the release mechanism is constructed in the form of a round bullet covered with a layer of copper similar to the construction of an ordinary bullet. On the exposed or bullet-like section the roller rotates or moves in every direction. The copper cup which holds the unit prevents it from striking the roller. The bottom section of the roller serves to lower the fuse needles. Inside the cylinder-near the sideis located the safety catch of the mine. The upper portion of the cylinder holds the blades or spikes which are eventually released.

Numeral 2 is a concave bullet-like cup made of copper which in turn makes possible the constant motion or quiver of the cylinder.

Numeral 3 indicates a safety lock which prevents accidental release of blades, or spikes.

A hollowed area is lined with heavy grease 4 to prevent water or moisture of any kind from seeping into the small cup-like copper holders.

The lower portion of element 1 has a thicker section 5 which holds blades-or spikesprior to release.

Safety pin 6 is constructed of shatterproof steel,

threaded from top to bottom, for easy removal and to prevent any shreds or pieces from entering the mechanism of the discharge unit.

Lower portion of concave is interwoven so as to brake the mechanism of the mine and prevent accidental release of safety pin.

Round steel pellet 6a covers opening left after safety pin has been pulledand not only prevents water from entering the unit but also makes renewed immunity impossible.

6B.Screw with spiral spring-irnpels shot to opening after removal of safety pin 7.Thread of safety catch 8.-'-Catch serving to unscrew and remove safety pin 9.Safety clasp serving to hold pin immobilized so that it wont twist out 10.Unit which holds back activator head, not allowing blades to be released 11.--Head of blade fuse unit which serves to intercept blades released by tensioned spring, from the lowering unit it is fiat 12.Counterpart serving to intercept tensioned blades 13.Blade housing of fuse or activator 13A.Blade section of activator shown flat-not permitting circulation of blade unit housing to revolve, which guarantees fast release of blades. There is a total of 5 blades (or spikes) around the hollow roller 14.Tensioned spiral spring of the spiked area 15.Counterpart of upper spring built to encompass spring 16.Counterpart of lower spring built in arm of blade housing 17.-Final lower unit of blade head with sharp peak which causes percussion cap to be released and explodes activated unit 18.Thread for screwing in percussion cap with fuse 19.-Percussion cap of fuse 20.Mine fuse 21.Sulphur which causes instant explosion 22.-Very powerful ordinary explosive which causes instant explosion 23.Mine covering. Mode of shatter type steel which explodes into many sharp pieces after explosion 24.Spikes (or blades) of fuse head built of shatter type steel. The spikes (or blades) encircle the mine. The outer side of the protective blades is painted or colored to blend in with current surroundings or terrain, which retards discovery of the mine even without camouflage of shrubs, twigs, or foliage. The blades (or spikes) can be placed in varied shapes or forms of leaves, etc.

25.-Steel lines are fastened to the blades of the housing (covering) and serve as security for extending to greater distance of lines depending on needs. The lines are built of steel or copper and must be strong enough. Small anchors are attached to the ends.

26.--Additional spikes which serve the same purpose as those in lower section 27 .Ear of anchor used to join lines 28.-Anchor used to join lines when setting up mine 29.-Upper portion closeting fuse mechanism 30.--Lower portion closeting fuse mechanism 31.Flat spring cylinder equipped in inner manner at base of cylinder 32.Flat spring hook located in inner cylinder 33.Flat spring hook on outer covering of fuse 34.Flat spring, not wound, serving to activate mechanism which controls release of mine 35.Gear (or cog) of cylinder spring hown inside cylinder) 36.Cog controlling gradual mine release 37.Small drum (tympanum) equipped with flat elongated springs, with seeded rivets attached to control and regulate rotation so that mine release occurs gradually 38.Axle with fine thread placed on gear of safety bolt serving to remove cylinder housing blades (or spikes) before release 39.Cylinder protecting heads of spikes in fuse before lowering for discharge (or explosion) 40.Cylinder conveyor protecting spikes. Serves as guide to progressive release to top. In place of this one can also use a gear (or cog) with threaded axle, serving to reach the cylinder conveyor 41.-Opening in gear serving to safeguard mine 42.Construction of lower portion of fuse container 43.Thread uniting combustion unit with mine 44.-Spring trip serving to immobilize and prevent unscrewing of fuse from mine housing 45.-Metal trap which prevents removal of blade or picket 46.--Flat spring holding back metal trap 47.Metal picket used in placing mine. Size or length depends on need. In areas with hard soil a shorter picket is used. For softer or sandier soil a longer one is used 48.Links are used to suspend the mine in trees and prevent pulling the mine out of the ground once it is lodged there thus making it impossible to inactivate 49.Opening for screwing in fuse.

Details of second figure:

60.-Counterpart of activator blades (or spikes) 61.-Blade heads and their placement on counterpart 62.-Metal band loosely encircled for easier lowering of spikes 4 63.-Conduit-pipe of cylinder used to lower fuse-head blades.

OPERATION OF THE DEVICE The device may best be described in its operation. Assuming that the device is disarmed, that is with the parts in the pos tion of FIGURE 1, to arm the mine after it has been appropriately set up, the pin 6 is withdrawn whereupon the pellet 6a is propelled and rolls into the aperture from which the pin 6 has been withdrawn. The pellet closes this aperture to prevent the entry of moisture into the body of the mine.

Immediately upon removal of the safety pin 6, the spiral spring 34 uncoils and drives the ring gear 35 which in turn drives the gear train 36 which is controlled by governor 36 to run at a predetermined speed. The gearing 36 rotates the threaded shaft 38 which is threaded into the safety cath cylinder 39. The cylindersurrounds the heads of pins 13 which are biased to be driven into the percussion cap 19 by the spring 14. The heads of the pin 13 normally rest upon the upper portion 12. Threading of the Shaft 38 into the cylinder 39 clears the cylinder from the heads of the pins. The mine is thus armed. Any angular motion of the element 4 about the universal connection 2 displaces the end 5 which sweeps the heads of pins 13 off the catch 12 and thus causes the pins 13 to strike the cap 19 which fires the detonator 29 and thus causes the substance 22 to explode and shatter the casing 23 in a shrapnel effect.

I claim:

1. An explosive device comprising a casing with explosive therein, triggering means, means for firing the explosive coupled to said triggering means, and means for arming the device comprising a governor controlled spring-actuated power train, safety means operatively interposed to said firing means for preventing accidental actuation thereof, and means operatively connecting said safety means with said means for arming said device for operation thereby upon actuation of said arming means to move said safety means to disassociated position with respect to said firing means to permit operation thereof upon actuation of the triggering means and said power train including a spring means, a gear driven by said spring means, a gear assembly driven by said gear, a governor driven by said gear assembly, a rotary threaded member driven by said assembly and threaded into said safety means and operative to move the same to said disassociated position consequent to said member threading thereinto.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and said member comprising a cylindrical structure encompassing said inner end portion of said element and said pins and said holding means in the unarmed condition of said device.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said spring means comprising a spiral spring having one end anchored to the casing and the other end drivingly connected to said gear disposed therein.

4. The invention according to claim 3 and said gear being hollow and admitting said triggering means therethrough. I

5. The invention according to claim 4 and said triggering means comprising a universally mounted element on the casing and said safety pin extending through said triggering element and interlocked with said gear means and preventing canting of said element.

6. The invention according to claim 5 and the universal mounting comprising a ball joint.

7. The invention according to claim 6 and said casing comprising a stake for spearing the device into the ground.

8. An explosive device comprising a casing with explosive therein, triggering means, means for firing the explosive coupled to said triggering means, and means for arming the device comprising a governor controlled spring-actuated power train, safety means operatively interposed to said firing means for preventing accidental actuation thereof, and means operatively connecting said safety means with said means for arming said device for operation thereby upon actuation of said arming means to move said safety means to disassociated position with respect to said firing means to permit operation thereof 5 said device, and a spring loaded plug communicating with 1 said opening and movable thereinto upon said pin being removed.

References Cited UNETED STATES PATENTS 2,826,990 3/1958 Gross 1028 2,830,538 4/1958 Dodge 102.-8 3,249,051 5/1966 Kaiser 10271 1,682,560 8/1928 Gruber 102-8 1,330,424 2/ 1920 Bergman 102-83 0 SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner.